CHARTING THE FUTURE: HOW TO SUPPORT TRULY INCLUSIVE FINANCIAL SECTORS?

NASSER BAKR AL-KAHTANI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AGFUND, SAUDI ARABIA

Nasser Bakr Al-Kahtani holds a Master degree from the University of Miami, USA.
Mr. Al Kahtani worked in the Institute of Public Administration as a Training Faculty
Member from 1985-1992, then as a Coordinator of Programs Section in the same institute
from 1992-1995. He joined AGFUND in 1995 and was assigned as the Director of HRH
President’s Office until 1998. In 1998, he was appointed as the Executive Director
of AGFUND. Mr. Al Kahtani is currently heading an AGFUND team to establish the “Bank
For the Poor” in Arab countries, in addition to his membership in many other committees
in the region.

MAYADA BAYDAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMKAN, LEBANON

DR. BAYDAS is a leading expert in the field of development finance with 20 years
of research and practical experience focusing on the establishment and management
of NGOs and sustainable microfinance institutions. Today, she is the Executive Director
of Emkan, a leading Lebanese NGO managing the microfinance portfolio as well as
economic development projects all over Lebanon. Additionally, she is a founding
partner and board member of the Development Innovations Group where she served as
the Senior Vice President and Managing Director for five years. Previously, she
established and served as the Director/General Manager of AMEEN sal, one of the
leading microfinance organizations in Lebanon, where she pioneered partnerships
between CHF International and three leading commercial banks and managed a portfolio
turnover exceeding $30 Million. Moreover, Dr. Baydas served as the Associate Director
for CHF International’s Office of Development Finance and Director for the CHF Training
Center. She is a recognized specialist in microfinance market assessments, with
extensive research and applied experience in examining the provision of financial
and non-financial services to the working poor. She possesses strong skills and
expertise in operational management of financial institutions, evaluation of microfinance
organizations, econometrics, and policy analysis. Dr. Baydas previously served as
a Professional Researcher and Lecturer at the University of California, Davis, and
has been a lecturer at the Boulder Microfinance Training Program since 2005. She
has presented at numerous microfinance seminars and conferences to scholars, policy
makers and practitioners, and has several professional publications. Dr. Baydas
has working experience in over 40 countries, in several regions around the world,
particularly in Africa and the Middle East, as well as in Asia, Eastern Europe,
and Latin America.

MAYADA EL-ZOGHBI, SENIOR MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST, CGAP

Ms. Mayada is a Senior Microfinance Specialist at CGAP heading the Donors and Investors
Team. With CGAP, Ms. El-Zoghbi manages a team of microfinance specialists who work
closely with donors and investors on aid effectiveness in microfinance. Prior to
joining CGAP, she was a partner at Banyan Global, a development consulting firm
with offices in New York and Washington. Ms. El-Zoghbi has over 15 years of microfinance
experience managing MFIs, providing technical assistance and training, as well as
advising funders. Ms. El-Zoghbi has broad experience in numerous regions including
Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Ms. El-Zoghbi has
a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor
in Business from the University of Minnesota. She is bi-lingual in English and Arabic.

Mr. Dardari is the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Syria From 2005
to present. He worked as the Head of State Planning Commission in Syria From December
2003, and as the Resident Representative Assistant “United Nation Development Program
in Syria” from 2001 until 2003. He also worked as the Head of trade Promotion department,
Arab Trade Financing Program/ Arab Monetary Fund:: from 1997 until 2002, and as
a National Director for the United Nation Development Program: from 1993 until 1997,
and as an Economic Consultant for the Syrian European Business Center: between 1996
and 2002. Mr. Dardari is also a famous Lecturer in "IT and Development" in the information
faculty in Damascus University, International Economic Relations in Alshareqah University,
Management Theory in Economy Faculty in Damascus University, International Relations
in the Higher Institute for Political Sciences in Syria, international Media in
the Media department in Literature Faculty in Damascus University and also he is
a Board Member of the EMBA program in the Higher Institute for Business Administration
in Syria

Julia established a fast growing career in Banking, especially in setting up retail
businesses in developing markets. She has international banking experience in retail
and retail credit risk in Africa & the Middle East, being based out of Egypt and
South Africa. After nine years in the banking sector, Julia moved to microfinance
and is currently the General Manager of Grameen-Jameel Pan Arab Microfinance ltd
based in Dubai. Julia has worked in eight countries in the Arab world, from Yemen
to Morocco providing financial and non-financial support to microfinance institutions
to help alleviate poverty in the Arab world.